Guide to intermittent catheterisation technology

In the United Kingdom (UK), approximately 450,000 people require long-term urinary catheterisation of which 50,000 regularly perform intermittent self-catheterisation for management of bladder drainage conditions. Over the last few decades, innovation within the intermittent catheter (IC) market has increased, providing improvements to clinical performance of ICs, and providing enhanced patient experience when using these medical products. Whilst there is no doubt progress has been made in improving patient care since the introduction of hydrophilic-coated catheters in the 1980s, several complications, such as urethral microtrauma and infection, persist and can have serious impact on patient quality of life. Continued development is required to further improve the quality and safety of intermittent catheterisation. This guide aims to provide a brief overview of current IC technology and introduce a new generation of catheter technology that aims to address these longstanding issues.